J a n c e e D u n n

J.C. Penney's 1975 catalog: Not Suitable For Young Children

My father, who worked at J.C. Penney's for 35 years, is a wholesome guy. Readers of my book may remember that he was a former Boy Scout, crossing guard, and designated driver. So I ask you, what was he thinking when he brought this lawless J.C. Penney catalog into our home?

Check out the Hugh Hefner-style furry black toilet seat. Grab your newspaper and kick back in sanitary comfort (click on photos for full-sized glory!)

The blue-clad International Male in the upper-right-hand corner: tell me, what is that outfit for, exactly? Bathing? Sleeping? Entertaining?

On the left: the single most depressing 'toy' I've ever seen. Hang on for a few years, kid, and your big dreams can come true.

In the lower left hand corner: 'His N' Hers Tiger-Print Underwear.' Imagine if my parents had rolled downstairs wearing that in the morning. Hello, therapist's couch.

Get your guns here! All sizes, all colors!

Floor mats for your car with a stoned bear saying 'If It Feels Good, Do It!' Good advice. Good advice.

To match your black fake-fur toilet seat, a groovy black acrylic fake-fur bedspread. Don't smoke in bed, though. One spark and you've got a not-so-groovy chemical fire that will rage for days!

I don't know what I love the most about this attempt of Penneys to capture the 'Superfly' market. It may be the hat. No, the chest hair. No, the halter top on the guy in the middle. No, the horn necklace. No, the mustaches.

Finally, take a look at the top right-hand corner. Yes, J.C. Penney water pipes, which 'can be smoked by 3 persons at one time.' In the catalog copy, they don't even bother writing 'for tobacco use only.'

J.C. Penney's 1975 catalog: Brace yourself

The reading that I did at The Greenfield Hills Congregational Church in Fairfield, Connecticut on Saturday was my favorite yet. I will post about it shortly but first I must write about the gift that they gave me.

In "But Enough About Me," I write about one of my favorite activities as a kid in the seventies, which was paging through J.C. Penney catalogs. (My father worked there for 35 years.) Well, my hosts, the fabulous Patane sisters (along with Rev. Dr. Alida Ward and Rev. David Johnson Rowe) somehow unearthed some Penneys catalogs from 1975. Hours of fun. Oh, yes.

Family pajamas with matching striped caps.

"Dad, can I have this sweater vest with an outhouse on it? It's all the rage at school."

You're never too young for your first leisure suit.

Look at the girl on the right: Brooke Shields, who used to do catalog modeling. Smiling bravely in her giant overalls. Good acting training for later.

For the aspiring Herb Tarlek from WKRP.

Again with the overalls. Not just any overalls. His N' Her overalls.

Fresh! Kicky! Fun!

You're never too young for a polyester pantsuit.

Speaking Engagement

I'll be at an event for New York Women In Communications this Tuesday.

Student Affairs Event with Jancee Dunn
Tuesday, September 25, 2007, 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Jancee Dunn, Rolling Stone writer, author of “But Enough About Me” and former MTV veejay, will share escapades from her career covering celebrities.

Location:
Planet Hollywood
1450 Broadway at 45th Street

Just when I thought I was out

...they pull me back in. I really have been trying to cut down on doing celebrity interviews and move on to something different, but sometimes I am still tempted.

I recently interviewed "Food Network" star Giada DiLaurentiis because she fit my new maxim of No More Crazy People, and indeed she was delightful.
On the way to the interview, I started chatting with the Telecar driver and inevitably we started talking shop. He said that the two worst people he had ever driven were, of all people, Rob Lowe ("unbelievably rude") and Billy Idol ("just a nasty, nasty guy.")

His favorite: George Clooney ("a true gentleman, funny, smart, friendly, I drove him for seven hours and it passed by like nothing.")

Then I went home and made Giada's very easy Rigatoni with Bechamel Sauce and it was the best thing I've ever eaten. I mean, you'll double in size but it's worth it.

Reading and Q&A

I'm doing a reading and a chat at the Greenfield Hill Congregational Church - a very inclusive, modern, welcoming congregation - on Saturday, September 22. It should be a lot of fun. This is not my usual sort of reading venue, so I'm very eager to go and see what they're all about.

From their website:

We're delighted that Jancee Dunn will join us for an evening of conversation on Saturday, September 22, at 7:30 PM at the church. Ms. Dunn's book, But Enough About Me: A Jersey Girl's Unlikely Adventures Among the Absurdly Famous, has been described as a combination of "personal memoir and a heap of delicious dish on celebrity ... both parts brilliant and hilarious."

The address is:

Greenfield Hill Church
1045 Old Academy Road
Fairfield, Connecticut 06824

And their website is www.greenfieldhillchurch.com